Smoking

The most traditional form of using Cannabis is smoking the dried flowers (“buds”). Hash and kief are also ingested this way. Cannabis can be smoked through a pipe (a “bowl”), rolled into a cigarette (a “joint”), or smoked using a water pipe (a “bong”). For most patients, the effects from smoking Cannabis are felt almost immediately. Depending on the individual and the cannabinoid content and potency of the Cannabis strain, effects wear off almost completely within 1.5 to 4 hours.

Vaporizing

A vaporizer is a device that warms the dried Cannabis flower causing the cannabinoids to vaporize so they can be inhaled. Since no plant material is burned, there is no smoke. Use caution and patience when vaporizing until you’re experienced with the dosage. A little can go a long way.

Cannabis concentrates can also be vaporized. Concentrates are extracts of Cannabis that contain all the active ingredients without any plant material. Concentrates typically have a sticky sap or wax like consistency and only a tiny amount is required to produce the desired effects.

Edibles

The most traditional form of using Cannabis is smoking the dried flowers (“buds”). Hash and kief are also ingested this way. Cannabis can be smoked through a pipe (a “bowl”), rolled into a cigarette (a “joint”), or smoked using a water pipe (a “bong”). For most patients, the effects from smoking Cannabis are felt almost immediately. Depending on the individual and the cannabinoid content and potency of the Cannabis strain, effects wear off almost completely within 1.5 to 4 hours.

If you feel you have eaten too much Cannabis, do not panic, your symptoms will subside within a few hours.

Tinctures

A tincture is a concentrated form of Cannabis in an alcohol solution. Tinctures are highly concentrated and require careful dosage levels, starting out small and waiting to feel the effects before adding more. They can be taken under the tongue or mixed into water or other beverages.

Topicals

Topical Cannabis products are applied directly to the skin. Topical products include lotions, salves, balms and creams. Unlike smoking, vaporizing or eating medical Cannabis, topicals produce no high whatsoever.